Railing system, particularly for travel trailers

Abstract

A railing system is provided for use with a patio area, which is collapsible into two opposing foldable sections to form a patio perimeter, utilizing telescoping and/or horizontally rotatable/pivotal motion to expand and contract sections as needed. The railing system can be connected along one side of a movable floor or platform for storage, and expanded to corner connections when the floor is opened for use as a patio. When used with a ramp door patio, the railing system can be folded away from the free ends of the ramp when vehicular traffic uses the ramp. When used with a trailer ramp door and folded away for storage, the railing system requires substantially less than the full height of the ramp and can be manipulated without vertical lifting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railing system for a patio area, comprising:
 at least a first collapsible portion,
 that portion having at least first and second sections, each section extending vertically and horizontally, 
   a mounting means connected to the collapsible portion for securing the railing system to a structure associated with the patio area,   the first section being connected to the mounting means so as to be rotatable within a horizontal plane, and   the second section being connected to the first section so as to be rotatable within a horizontal plane.   
     
     
         2 . The railing system according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second sections each form a frame for receiving and supporting a web of material which restrains movement of objects through the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The railing system according to  claim 1  wherein the railing system is mounted on a vehicle having a movable patio floor, and the railing system is disposed to be movable between a collapsed position for storage and an extended position encompassing at least a portion of the perimeter of the patio floor. 
     
     
         4 . The railing system according to  claim 3  wherein the vehicle is a travel trailer, the movable patio floor is a ramp door, and the mounting means is connected to a portion of the chassis of the travel trailer. 
     
     
         5 . The railing system according to  claim 1  wherein the rotation of the first section within a horizontal plane is about a first vertical axis, and the rotation of the second section within a horizontal plane is about a second vertical axis. 
     
     
         6 . The railing system according to  claim 1  wherein the first section includes first and second frame structures which are telescopically mounted with respect to each other such that the second frame structure is slidable into and out of the first frame structure. 
     
     
         7 . The railing system according to  claim 6  wherein:
 the first and second frame structures are telescopically slidable along a horizontal plane, 
 the first frame structure has a length with first and second ends, is connected at its first end to the mounting means, and receives the second frame structure at its second end, and 
 the second frame structure has a length with first and second ends, is connected at its second end to the second section, and is received by the first frame structure at its first end. 
 
     
     
         8 . The railing system according to  claim 7  wherein the first frame structure includes means to facilitate telescopic motion of the second frame structure therein by reducing sliding friction and by reducing lateral motion. 
     
     
         9 . The railing system according to  claim 6  wherein the patio area includes a floor, and the frame structures each include at their second ends a vertically extending leg which engages and is removably retained by the patio floor. 
     
     
         10 . The railing system according to  claim 8  wherein the second section includes a vertically extending leg which engages and is removably retained by the patio floor and which is vertically retractable so as to avoid contact with the second frame structure when the second section rotates with respect to the first section. 
     
     
         11 . The railing system according to  claim 1  also including a second collapsible portion, that second portion having at least one section extending vertically and horizontally and being rotatably mounted at one end to a structure associated with the patio area, the free end of the second portion being movable toward the free end of the second section of the first portion, so as to create an enclosure over a perimeter of the patio area. 
     
     
         12 . The railing system according to  claim 11  wherein a releasable connection is provided at the free ends of the second portion and of the second section of the first portion, so as to retain those components in adjacent position. 
     
     
         13 . The railing system according to  claim 11  wherein either the second portion or the second section of the first portion is movable with respect to other elements of the railing system, so as to serve as a closable gate for the patio area. 
     
     
         14 . The railing system according to  claim 11  wherein the first and second portions are mounted to be movable with respect to each other, so as to overlap a portion of the patio side when the railing system is collapsed for storage. 
     
     
         15 . The railing system according to  claim 11  wherein the railing system is fully detached from, and does not obstruct the patio area, when the railing system is collapsed for storage. 
     
     
         16 . The ornamental design for a railing system, substantially as shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 17-20  herein.